Railway-switch mechanism



(NovModeL) M. T. KOCH. RAILWAY SWITCH MECHANISM.

No. 592.009. Patented Oct. 19 1897.

b I E E E :[IJaQlJfOP MJOIZZIOGZ/ UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE;

MATTESON TAMAN noon, on HUB oITY, wIsooNsIN.

RAILWAY-SWITCH MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 592,009, dated October 19, 1897.

Application filed May 28, 1897- $eria1No. 638,595. (No model.)

.To all whom it mag/concern;

Be it known that I, MATTESON TAMAN KOCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hub City, in the county of Richland and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Railway-Switch Mechanism, of which tion, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch mechanism constructed in accord ance with my invention, the parts being shown in full lines in position to leave the main track open, and in dotted lines in position to leave the siding-track open. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the supporting and stop plate for the free contiguous extremities of the main and auxiliary switch-rails.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures of the drawlugs- 1 designates the main and 2 the siding track rails.

3 represents main switch-rails connected for simultaneous operation and adapted at their outer reduced extremities to bear respectively and alternately against the facing sides of the outer main and inner siding track rails, as shown respectively in dotted and full lines in Fig. 1, said connected switch-rails being fulcrumed at an intermediate point, for horizontal pivotal movement, by means of a cross-bar 4, located approximately midway between the opposite extremities of the connected rails. Cooperating'with the main switch-rails are connected auxiliary switch-rails 5, adapted for alinement, respectively, with the inner main and outer siding track rails, as shown respectively in full and dotted lines in Fig. 1, said auxiliary switch-rails being connected for simultaneous movement by a horizontal plate 6, which forms the means whereby the rails are mounted'for swinging movement in a horizontal plane. The pivotal point 7 of the'auxiliary switch-rails is located between the lines, and contiguous to the extremities, ofthe inner main and outer siding track rails, thus leaving the opposite or inner extremities of the auxiliary switch-rails free for swinging movement in directions respectively opposite to those of theeontiguous free extremities of the main switch-rails. The main switch-rails are approximately twice the length of the auxiliary switch-rails, and hence occupy two-thirds of the distance between the alined fixed portions of the trackrails to be connected, the auxiliary switchrails occupying the remaining third of the distance.

The main rails being pivoted at an intermediate point, approximately at their centers, while the auxiliary switch-rails are pivoted at their remote or outer ends, it will be seen that when the cooperating main and auxiliary switch-rails are in their proper'relative positions they are alined accurately with the fixed portions of the track-rails and with each other, thus avoiding the risk of jumping the track at the joints between the switch-rails, and making a continuous tread for the wheels of rolling-stock.

The means which Ihave illustrated in the drawings for attaining the desired relative operations of the main and auxiliary switchrails include a pivot-a1 cross-head 8, having its arms connected respectively by means of switch bars or rods 9 and 10 with the main and auxiliary switch-rails,whereby the swinging movement of the cross-head causes a swinging movement in opposite directions, respectively, of the said switch-rails.

The swinging movement of the auxiliary switch-rails is limited by spaced stops 11, arranged respectively upon opposite sides thereof, and preferably formed as parts of a horizontal supporting and guide plate 12, which is secured to one of the cross-ties of the roadbed to support the contiguous free extremities of the main and auxiliary switch-rails.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is The combination with main and siding track rails, of which the outer main and inner siding track rails are cut away, of connected main switch-rails fulcrumed at an intermediate point by means of a pivoted connectingplate, and adapted respectively for alinement with the outer main and inner fixed rails, connected auxiliary switch-rails interposed between the ends of the main switch-rails and the contiguous extremities of the fixed rails, and fulcrumed at those ends which are remote from the main switch-rails by means of a pivoted connecting-plate, the contiguous free ends of the main and auxiliary switchrails being capable of simultaneous movement in opposite directions to cause the alinement of the opposite main and auxiliary switch-rails with the fixed rails,and the length of the auxiliary switch-rails being approximately equal to the length of those portions of the main switch-rails between the fulcrumpoint of the latter and those extremities which are contiguous to the auxiliary switch-rails, and means for simultaneously swinging the main and auxiliary switch-rails in opposite directions, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MATTESON TAMAN KOCH.

Vitnesses:

MARY A. WINTERs, S. P. HOWARD. 

